eorcnanstan

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Compound of eorcnan (“special, noble”) +‎ stān (“stone”). Cognate with Old Norse jarknasteinn, which is generally regarded as a loan from Old English. Translates margarita in 9th century biblical glosses but is used generically as "precious stone, gem" in Beowulf (line 1208) and The Ruin (v. 36).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈe͜ork.nɑnˌstɑːn/, [ˈe͜orˠk.nɑnˌstɑːn]

Noun

eorcnanstān m

  1. precious stone, pearl

Declension
Declension of eorcnanstan (strong a-stem)
Case Singular Plural
nominative eorcnanstān eorcnanstānas
accusative eorcnanstān eorcnanstānas
genitive eorcnanstānes eorcnanstāna
dative eorcnanstāne eorcnanstānum

Descendants
  • → English: arkenstone (Tolkien)

References
  • Peter Kitson, 'Lapidary traditions in Anglo-Saxon England: part I, the background; the Old English Lapidary' in: Anglo-Saxon England, vol. 7, eds. Martin Biddle, Julian Brown, Peter Clemoes, Cambridge University Press, 2007, →ISBN, 9-60 (fn. 5 p. 25).
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